A trio of milestones have been passed in the pilot phase of our proposed major renewables investment programme after planners gave the green light to three key projects.

Work can now begin on our first hydro-powered pub at Sticklebarn in the Lake District, following a decision by planners last week. A project to build one of the UK’s first marine source heat pumps has also been given the go ahead at Plas Newydd, Anglesey, along with a hydro-electric scheme at Craflwyn near Beddgelert, Snowdonia.

The move marks a significant shift forwards in our renewable energy investment programme, which we launched in conjunction with the renewable electricity supplier, Good Energy, in April this year.

We've pledged to invest nearly £3.5 million in five pilot projects, including hydro, biomass and heat pumps, during 2013/14. If the pilot is deemed successful, then we expect to spend ten times that sum in a programme that will enable us to generate 50 per cent of our energy from renewable sources and halve our fossil fuel consumption by 2020.

Patrick Begg, director for rural enterprises, said:
‘We’ve been working closely with our specialist conservation advisers to ensure these developments are at the right scale and location and work totally in tune with their historic and natural setting – and it seems the planning officers agree.’

‘We care deeply about the beautiful places we look after and want them to stay that way forever. The renewable schemes we are building will help wean us off oil and reduce our energy costs by more than £4 million a year.’

The three pilot projects that have gained planning permission so far are:

Get involved
If you want to support the programme, you can sign up for renewable electricity with our energy partner, Good Energy. We'll receive up to £40 per year for each new customer signing up to the dual fuel tariff via the National Trust.

Good Energy is also helping us develop our renewable strategy, using its expertise in generating power from natural sources and its experience of supporting more than 55,000 small and medium sized renewable energy generators in the UK.

Juliet Davenport OBE, Founder and CEO of Good Energy said: ‘These ground-breaking pilot projects show energy can be generated in even the most sensitive locations if the right technology is used. They are great examples of harnessing the power of nature to generate both heat and electricity and we are very pleased to support them.’

We've been making steady progress pioneering the use of renewable technologies across the places we look after.

Over the last decade around 250 schemes have been installed across a wide range of technologies: wood (biomass), solar electricity and hot water, small-scale wind, hydro-electric, and heat pumps.